We knew the Strokes were working on their new LP, but it looks like plans are firming up: Julian Casablancas says his band will headline Lollapalooza in August, and will have the new LP out in September. Their fourth album will be out nine years after This Is It. As Casablancas points out in a […]
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Strokes Confirm Lollapalooza 2010, LP Coming September
Posted on 11 March 2010
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Britney Spears, Madonna, U2, Bruce Springsteen Are Billboard Top Money Makers
Posted on 01 March 2010
Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Pink and Kings of Leon also make the top 40 list for 2009.
By Gil Kaufman
Britney Spears
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Billboard magazine’s fourth-annual Top 40 Money Makers list is topped by U2 this year. The Irish superstars raked in more than $108 million in 2009, mostly through their gigantic 360-degree tour — the most expensive rock production to ever hit the road — which is also destined to be the highest-grossing tour of all time.
In addition to being topped by the big three from the ’80s — U2, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen — the list also features a number of younger acts banking major cash, among them Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Kings of Leon and Taylor Swift.
Among the variables figured into the list were money earned from CD and digital sales, publishing royalties and all forms of streaming media, as well as touring from the first week of 2009 through January 3, 2010.
The top three included Madonna, who piled up $47.2 million from her Sticky and Sweet stadium/arena tour, licensing and merchandise as well as a lucrative 360 deal with Live Nation. Veteran rocker Bruce Springsteen took the #2 spot with $57.6 million through a combination of touring, more than 2 million digital downloads and hefty publishing revenues thanks to the fact that he writes all his own songs.
Britney Spears proved that touring is a girl’s best friend by surging in at #5 ($38.8 million), raking in more than $36.4 million for her worldwide arena tour in support of 2008’s Circus album, as well as money from more than 7.5 million downloads. The road was very, very kind to Pink as well, earning her the #6 spot ($36.3 million), with all but $1 million of that rolling in courtesy of her acrobatic Funhouse world tour.
The Jonas Brothers did all right for themselves, landing at #7 on proceeds of $33.5 million, $31.4 million of which came from their world tour in support of Lives, Vines and Trying Times. Miley Cyrus hit #15 with $21.2 million, with more than $4.3 million from CD royalties and $15 million from her Wonder World tour, while Beyoncé banked $23.6 million to land at #13, with $2.3 coming from CD royalties on I Am … Sasha Fierce, as well as endorsements and touring revenue. Coldplay earned $27.3 million, most of it from their world tour in support of 2008’s Viva la Vida.
Also earning big bucks was teen Taylor Swift, #21 with $17.2 million, whose touring only accounted for half her cash, which mostly came from CD royalties for her mega-selling Fearless. In fact, Swift’s royalties were topped only by Michael Jackson’s, which surged in the year of his death.
Jackson was just ahead at #20 with $17.3 million, from a combination of CD and ringtone royalties ($13.2 for albums, $255,000 for ringtones), as well as cash from “This Is It,” the highest-grossing concert film of all time, earning more than $72 million at the box office.
Kings of Leon also crashed the list at #25 with $14.4 million, $1.4 million of which they earned for their breakthrough Only by the Night disc, which sold 1.2 million copies. Another $9.9 million came from their non-stop touring.
Green Day came in at #32 with more than $12.1 million, mostly from their 21st Century Breakdown album and more than $8.8 million in touring. Lil Wayne — who is headed to prison for a year on Tuesday — came in at #30 with $12.8 million, $10 million of which came from the highest-grossing hip-hop tour of the year, not to mention the most lucrative rap trek Billboard has ever tracked.
Among the other acts making the list: reunited jam giants Phish (#37, $9.9 million), greasepaint rockers Kiss (#34, $11.8 million), former Beatle Paul McCartney (#31, $12.2 million), road hogs the Dave Matthews Band (#17, $20 million), Elton John (#14, $22.1 million), Nickelback (#12, $23.6 million), Fleetwood Mac (#11, $24.7 million), Metallica (#10, $25.5 million) and AC/DC (#4, $43.6 million).
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Lloyd Banks’ V5 Is ‘Going Back’ To His Roots
Posted on 01 March 2010
‘Just reflecting back in the studio,’ he tells Mixtape Daily of the new tape.
By Shaheem Reid
Lloyd Banks
Photo: G-Unit
This Week’s Main Pick
Street Kings: Lloyd Banks and DJ Whoo Kid
Holding It Down For: The G-Unit
Mixtape: V5
Real Spit: Two days before we were originally supposed to shoot the Lloyd Banks Mixtape Daily segment, the G-Unit rapper was arrested in Canada on assault charges. While waiting on his trial, Banks has bounced back with the hit single “Beamer, Benz or Bentley” with Juelz Santana.
The entire G-Unit is currently on a two-month European tour, but their youngest member left a gift for the streets on the Net. Yes, we got Banks in front of the cameras to perform a record from the mixtape for the first time.
Banks started his latest round of mixtape rampaging toward the end of 2008. The onetime Mixtape Artist of the Year at the Justo Awards said he had to get his spot back.
“Just reflecting back in the studio,” Banks said of his underground assault. “Just going back. People always say, ‘Go back to your first album,’ I went back further than that. All the success came from [my early mixtapes] Money in the Bank, Money in the Bank Part 2 all the way to Part 4. I was like, ‘You know what? I did that in a matter of two years.’ I said, ‘I’mma do what I did in two years in one.’ I did Return of the P.L.K.; that came out in September [2008]. I went from that to Halloween Havoc; it came out in Halloween. Cold Corner came out in December [2008]. Then it was 4-30-82 [last spring]. Then V5 [in December].
“By the time I got to V5, it was a good five or six months between tapes,” he added. “I didn’t plan it like that. I just never stopped recording and touring. By the time V5 came, I felt a little pressure. I told them it was gonna get better every time. I think people embraced it.”
Banks’ official album is due later this year. It will come out independently.
“I’m aiming towards summer,” Lloyd said of the release. “Mid-summer, late summer. I won’t drop an album until I feel the buzz. You know, as an artist, when you feel it. I’m working independent. Everything they’ve heard the past year has come out my basement, including ‘Beamer, Benz or Bentley.’ When you first come on as a new artist and you hot and you got a buzz, you could sell doo-doo on a stick. The label makes you feel like they did it, when they just called their boy and dropped the record off.
“Now it boost my confidence when I know I can make a record in my crib, send it out and receive finances from it,” he added. “Whenever it’s through iTunes or whatever other outlet you have, I’m happy with it. I’m not gonna rush it, though. If it came out after this year, it wouldn’t matter to me, as long as it’s the product people expect.”
Joints to Check For
» “Power Back” “I was in the zone when I wrote that record,” Banks described. “It was actually a typo [on the track listing]. It was supposed to be ‘Power Pack.’ You know what the power pack is, people. That’s the vein I was in. I was reflecting. It was real rap. It wasn’t about having the best punch line. I wrote the record for me, and it was real things said in it. I really had a homie that was well on his way as far as basketball goes. He went to college, and somebody slipped him something [in his drink]. He ain’t been the same ever since. It was more a record for me and the people I grew up around. Every city has something that reminds you of yours. I like tracks with music,” he added about the soulful soundscape. “Tracks with things going on.”
» “Rather Be Me.” “My record is gonna sound like that. How it’s put together from top to bottom and ends like a movie,” the Punch Line King said. “That’s the route I wanna take my album. ‘Rather Be Me,’ is a deep record. It’s one of the joints. I didn’t let nobody hear it when I was recording it. I was in the zone. It felt like a movie to me. It’s crazy, because a lot of people think I’m talking to somebody in particular, but it’s not. It’s talking to anybody that’s a coward. If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. When you hear the little funny things like, ‘Banks doesn’t want to be G-Unit.’ N—a, I am G-Unit. This [tattoo] been right here on my hand. Before anybody was signed, it was me, Tony Yayo and 50 Cent. To take that away from me is like taking away my legacy, to a certain extent. We worked too hard for somebody to tell me to drop my G-Unit.”
» “We Remain.” ” ‘Chronic, Fiji and a brand-new Lamborghini. When you see me, it’s a half a mill easy,’ ” Banks raps. “Rap needs me. That was me just going. It was a record that wasn’t necessarily recorded for the mixtape. I felt I needed that, where it was a full, long verse, a bridge. That’s as gutter as it gets. That’s one of the first songs I recorded for V5. It set the tone. The ‘Green Day’ record, ‘Southside in the House,’ all those records were spawned from that record. It’s just dark, man. You could see yourself in your neighborhood, and it’s me reflecting. I still come back to this neighborhood where my friends still stay. To go from success to being doubted to having success all over again, I feel like the underdog and that the streets are behind me.”
For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.
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‘American Idol’ Top 12 Men’s Report Card
Posted on 25 February 2010
Casey James gets our only ‘excellent’ grade, and the rest have some serious studying to do!
By Eric Ditzian
The “American Idol” top 12 men
Photo: Patrick Ecclestein / FOX
Call it a case of nervousness on the first day of class, a failure to study hard, or a bunch of students in over their heads. Whatever the case on Wednesday’s “American Idol,” the top 12 men arrived for their first live show test and promptly flunked. Most of them, at least, especially when compared to the top 12 women the previous evening. So, who surprised us, who disappointed us, and who’s in danger of going home? Let’s take a look at the top 12 men’s report card. (And don’t miss Jim Cantiello’s review in the Newsroom.)
Excellent
Casey James: The judges predictably continued to milk the Kara-hearts-Casey storyline, which besides getting a bit tired, is starting to be unfair to the singer who called himself “just some dude.” Drop the manufactured drama, because with his stripped-down acoustic take on Bryan Adams’ “Heaven,” James established himself as a front-runner. He alone among the male contestants looked natural onstage. He alone injected a sense of live show verve to the dull proceedings. He alone deserves two gold stars.
Satisfactory
Andrew Garcia: By now, Garcia’s shtick has become clear: He takes a pop tune and turns it inside out. The judges were not impressed by his remix of Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Going Down,” but it hardly deserved such vociferous hate from them. If anything, Simon and his crew seem to be knocking down a front-runner just so that he might rise from the ashes later in the season. Make no mistake: Garcia is still the singer to beat this season.
Todrick Hall: Hall took the judges’ instruction to be creative and ran with it … possibly off a cliff. It’s never good when words used to describe a performance include “murder,” “torture” and “verging on stupid.” But you know what? With his re-jiggered version of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone,” Hall displayed guts and creativity, and has us looking forward to his performance next week. He shouldn’t have a problem making it through.
Joe Muñoz: The 20-year-old came into the evening without the benefit of much previous camera time, and he did indeed look like he was having a blast now that he’s on center stage. His version of Jason Mraz’s “You and I Both” was serviceable, but compared with some of the stinkers we heard, Muñoz benefits from a steep grading curve.
Lee Dewyze: At least the goateed guitarist introduced a measure of energy into this drowsy evening. Dewyze was pitchy at times and screamy at others while singing Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars,” and he’d be wise to embrace the judges’ urging to stake out a David Cook-esque raspy rocker vibe. He’ll absolutely have a chance. Dewyze is safe.
Michael Lynche: Big Mike is a head-scratcher of a contestant, a lovable hulk with a melodic voice one minute, an ego-heavy diva the next. Which is it, dude? Either way, his take on Maroon 5’s “This Love” was among the better performances of the night, which doesn’t mean much when everything else was so awful. He’s still a fan favorite, though, and will clearly stick around for at least a few more weeks.
Unsatisfactory
Aaron Kelly: Were the judges listening to the same thing we were? That was a seriously pitchy performance, and it bordered on embarrassing when he couldn’t hold a single high note in Rascal Flatts’ “Here Comes Goodbye.” Buh-bye is surely what “Idol” would be saying to Kelly if not for loads of praise from the judges. The 16-year-old will stick around to sing another day, but I’m not sure he deserves it.
Jermaine Sellers: The guy’s got a nice falsetto, but it turned shouty too often during his take on Oleta Adams’ “Get Here.” Sellers’ voice was suddenly so small. Far worse than his performance, though — and the reason he finds himself with a failing grade — is that he flubbed his chance to make up for his diva-ish run-in with the band during Hollywood Week. Ryan Seacrest served him a perfect “let’s all make nice” setup and Sellers clumsily batted it away. He’s in big trouble this week.
Tim Urban: The 25th contestant welcomed into the top 24, Urban went out of his way to prove the judges right in their original decision to send him home during Hollywood Week. Meek on the high notes and cringe-inducing in the falsetto parts of “Apologize” by OneRepublic, Urban won’t be around for long. His only hope, as Ellen put it, is for voters to ignore his singing and focus on his adorableness.
Tyler Grady: His take on the Guess Who’s “American Woman” started off promisingly with a super bluesy intro. When the song segued into full-on rock anthem mode, Grady showed himself as a poseur of the highest order. We’ve all pulled this sort of performance in our bedroom, lip-synching with the blinds closed. But who among us has dragged out this cheesiness for tens of millions of viewers? Grady might be in trouble this week. He might not go home, but he should certainly be sweating.
John Park: What happened to you, sir? Why on earth would you choose a jazz standard like Billie Holliday’s “God Bless the Child” and then perform it like you’re an octogenarian lounge singer on a cruise ship headed straight to the Underworld? Compare that snoozer to your endearing pre-performance interview, when you professed your love for Shania Twain and emerged as this season’s resident comedian? Park, my friend, you’ll make it through to next week, but you better get your act together.
Alex Lambert: This kid was so terrified, his jangling anxiety traveled through the camera and into the home of every viewer. It was uncomfortable, to say the least, listening to him warble though “Wonderful World” by James Morrison. Lambert might benefit from the pity vote, but unless he starts popping Xanax and beats his stage fright quickly, he’ll be headed back home soon.
Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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‘American Idol’ Season Nine Vs. Season Eight: How Do They Compare?
Posted on 25 February 2010
After a rocky start to the semifinals, we take a look back at this stage of the competition last year.
By Eric Ditzian
Anoop Desai performs on season eight of “American Idol”
Photo: Michael Becker/Getty Images/ Fox
After two nights of middling top 24 “American Idol” performances — from Tim Urban’s bleated butchering of OneRepublic to Lacey Brown’s drearily clichéd “Landslide” — a consensus seems to be forming that this year’s talent pales in comparison to that of last season. But are the season-nine crooners really that much worse at this stage in the competition than contestants that came before them?
We took a look back at the first live shows of season eight — when the show featured a top 36 rather than a top 24 — to reacquaint ourselves with past performances and provide a little context as the new season pushes forward.
In February 2009, we hammered Anoop Desai for croaking his way through Monica’s “Angel of Mine,” and he was actually sent packing — until the judges rescued him with one of their wild cards. ‘Noop Dog went on to show off some admirable R&B skills and finished sixth in the competition. That first live show didn’t represent who he truly was as a singer.
Conversely, Alexis Grace delivered a soaring take on Aretha Franklin’s “Never Loved a Man,” earning comparisons to Kelly Clarkson and making us think she was a serious contender; she didn’t even make the top 10. The point is, the first live show is not the most accurate indicator of performances to come.
That being said, there’s no denying this week’s “Idol” offered up some wicked stinkers and very few breath-takers. When he wasn’t being ogled by Kara DioGuardi, Casey James sauntered through a fine acoustic version of Bryan Adams’ “Heaven” and Lilly Scott surprised us with a reworked take on the Beatles’ “Fixing a Hole.” Yet with the possible exception of Andrew Garcia (who made an odd song choice with Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Going Down” but is nonetheless a front-runner), this season has given us nothing like the breakout talents from season eight.
Back in ‘09, Danny Gokey blew the audience away with Mariah Carey’s “Hero.” Allison Iraheta immediately called to mind a gruffer, more authentic and more talented incarnation of Avril Lavigne. And after Adam Lambert’s glammed-up take on the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” it became clear he was unlike anyone the show had ever seen. All these top 36 contestants went on to sign major-label deals.
And this season? We’ve got some hopefuls, but no one who wowed us.
Does that mean we won’t be wowed at all this season? Will the contestants step up their game in the weeks to come? Let us know what you think!
Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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‘American Idol’ Top 12 Men Have A Rocky Live Debut
Posted on 24 February 2010
Casey James emerges as one of only standouts during the boys’ first performance night.
By Gil Kaufman
Casey James on “American Idol” Wednesday
Photo: Fox
After a number of uneven, forgettable performances by the top 12 ladies Tuesday night, it was starting to feel like Simon Cowell’s prediction that a female would win this year’s “American Idol” was a bit premature. And then the men took the stage Wednesday night (February 24), and for most of the two hours, well, they seemed determined to prove Simon right.
From poor song choices to shaky vocals and clear nerves, one by one, the guys got hammered by the judges, with even front-runner Andrew Garcia drawing some fire for his somber Fall Out Boy cover as pinup cowboy Casey James appeared to slip into the pole position with his mix of good looks and strong vocals.
First out of the gate was Todrick Hall, one of the most experienced singers in the competition. He took a big chance singing a Chris Brown-y funk take on original “Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson’s breakthrough hit “Since U Been Gone.” He satisfied the judge’s desire to hear something original, and Ellen DeGeneres was visibly pleased, applauding Hall’s stage moves but saying the chorus was a bit of a mess. Randy Jackson actually didn’t love how the arrangement was so different that he almost couldn’t recognize it, and Cowell said Hall came over “as a dancer trying to sing,” docking him for completely “murdering” the song.
One of this year’s youngest contestants, spiky-haired 16-year-old Aaron Kelly tackled Rascal Flatts’ “Here Comes Goodbye,” showing remarkable poise and self-confidence as he wrapped his raspy voice around the schmaltzy cowboy ballad. “Bearing in mind it’s your first live show, it actually was quite a good performance,” said Cowell, who suggested that the high-schooler looked a bit embarrassed to be onstage and not confident that he deserved to be in the competition. “You’re a good singer, very likable, very cute, but you have to take control of the song,” he added.
Church singer Jermaine Sellers, 27, who almost blew it in Hollywood when he threw the band under the bus, went the inspirational route with Oleta Adams’ version of the gospel tune “Get Here,” busting out some powerful falsetto amid breathy verses. Ellen liked the song choice but said Sellers seemed to be trying too hard, and Randy suggested he go more contemporary with his big voice and try a tune by Ne-Yo or Maxwell instead. Simon likened it to a corny piano-bar song and said the middle section sounded like screaming. “I think you’ve totally blown your opportunity,” he concluded.
Tim Urban, 20, revealed that he didn’t even tell his family that he’d made the top 24 after initially missing the cut and then sliding into the 24th spot when Chris Golightly was disqualified, letting them find out only when they watched the final Hollywood Week episode. The floppy-haired Texan went contemporary with OneRepublic’s “Apologize,” strangely staring into the camera and displaying his limited vocal range when he reached too far for the falsetto notes on the chorus and went oddly aggressive on the verses. Cowell congratulated him for coming back. “Having said that, we absolutely made the right decision the first time around by not putting you through with that performance,” he said, telling Urban his voice was just not good enough. For Randy, none of it worked, and Ellen agreed, saying the high notes were just not there, though people might vote for him because he’s adorable, which she mentioned more than once.
One of the least-known semifinalists, California’s Joe Muñoz, 20, tried to prove himself with Jason Mraz’s “You and I Both,” sounding a bit rushed at times as he tried to loosen up and get into the song’s lite-funk groove. “You are so comfortable onstage, aren’t you?” said Ellen, as Randy questioned the song choice and Kara gave props to Muñoz for being the most consistent of the night at that point. Simon, however, said it was safe and forgettable and lacked the star power needed to win.
None of those things were a problem for Nazareth, Pennsylvania, college kid Tyler Grady, this year’s resident retro rocker. He boldly covered the Guess Who’s “American Woman,” starting out with a Doors-like acoustic-blues vibe before busting into a crunching Lenny Kravitz rock groove that had great energy and stage presence amid some flat vocals. “Plus side, people are going to remember that performance; down side, partly for the wrong reasons,” said Simon, who called it the clichéd work of someone who has gone to pretend-to-be-a-rock-star school. Kara agreed, saying the Jim Morrison thing is cute but lacks originality and needs to be updated to this decade. Randy called it style over substance.
Lee Dewyze, 23, a Chicago sales clerk who mostly flew under the radar in Hollywood, strapped on his acoustic guitar for the Snow Patrol ballad “Chasing Cars,” shouting half the vocals in his signature bar-band rasp. Randy and Kara hated the song choice, calling it a bit too soft for Dewyze’s harder-edge voice. Inexplicably, Simon said it was his best performance so far, praising his “authentically good voice.”
College student John Park, 21, who famously got props on his “bottom end” and lips from Shania Twain during his audition, tested his luck with the jazz standard “God Bless the Child,” crooning it in a loungey style and missing most of the notes during a schlocky performance that almost made it seem like a blatant taunting of the judges. “You have got to have an incredible voice to take on that song, and you haven’t,” Simon said, calling the performance flat, devoid of emotion and kind of pointless. Kara said despite a big voice, Park just didn’t show where he would fit into today’s music business.
Proud new papa Michael Lynche plugged in for a peppy, acoustic take on Maroon 5’s “This Love” that scored with the audience and DeGeneres, who praised his big personality and smile and said Lynche benefited from a night of mediocre performances. “Michael, what they’re really saying in a roundabout way is that you were like the support act before the main act,” Cowell said. “You’re a big guy, big heart, but … you delivered so little on that performance. It was kind of like a vague, jazzy version.”
Soft-spoken Texas high school student Alex Lambert, 19, was memorable mostly because he was stuck with overbearing Mary Powers in Hollywood, but he came out of his shell with James Morrison’s “Wonderful World,” trying to shake off a clear case of nerves while showcasing his exquisitely ragged vocals. Cowell said Lambert has a great voice, but called it “the most uncomfortable performance” of the night thanks to Alex’s stage fright. Kara just wanted to give him a hug and praised him for a great vocal tone, while Ellen gave his mullet a thumbs-up. She also pulled out a remarkably spot-on Paula-ism, telling Lambert, “I love bananas, and sometimes a banana is just not quite ripe, and you’re like, ‘Ooh! I wish it was riper, because I’d like to eat that banana right now. … You just need to ripen.”
Kara crush Casey James, 27, let down his golden locks and went with Bryan Adams’ “Heaven,” cowboying the song up with a yodely edge, staring into DioGuardi’s eyes as he confidently strummed his guitar. Kara joked that she didn’t recognize him with his shirt on, Randy said he loved the song and James’ swagger (though not in that way), and DioGuardi finally gained her composure enough to admit, “You are eye candy, but you are also ear candy.” Even Cowell got in on the jokes about James’ looks, though he too got serious and said Casey chose a great song and came across as honest, sincere and likable.
Andrew Garcia got the primo final spot, doing exactly what you’d expect by singing an offbeat, strummy acoustic version of Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Going Down,” adding a Mraz-esque jazzy swing to the song. Though he was looking forward to him the most, Cowell said the redo was too indulgent, too serious and not original enough. “I don’t think tonight you took a risk,” Simon said, referring to the attention-grabbing cover of Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up” that made Garcia’s mark in Hollywood. Ellen suggested he be less morose and show some of the personality he flashed when he looked over to where his family was sitting midway through the song. “I think you’re gonna stick around,” she predicted. “We like ya.”
Two men and two women will go home Thursday night, when last year’s winner, Kris Allen, will perform and talk about his recent trip to Haiti, and finalist Allison Iraheta will sing her new single “Scars.”
What did you think of tonight’s performances? Were the guys better than the girls? Who do you think will go home? Add your comment below.
Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Mariah Carey Wows Crowd, Pokes Fun At Herself At L.A. Show
Posted on 24 February 2010
‘I know it’s a diva moment,’ singer jokes as she summons hair and makeup people onstage.
By Ryan J. Downey
Mariah Carey performs at L.A.’s Gibson Amphitheatre on Tuesday
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
UNIVERSAL CITY, California — Early into her set, Mariah Carey smiled widely as she surveyed the packed Gibson Amphitheatre on night one of a two-night stand. “You sound very, very festive,” she told the audience. She picked up a glass from a table full of beverages. “This is water — don’t get it twisted, please. Now that’s not to say there aren’t other things on the table. This is L.A. And I have been known to have a sip or two in L.A.”
It was one of several moments of feisty self-effacing humor from the chatty singer. Throughout the night, her between-song banter felt light, honest and steadfastly lucid, in stark contrast to recent well-publicized bouts of public babbling. Her intimate connection with her fans was palpable from start to finish.
The evening began at 9 p.m., right on schedule. “I’m usually much more late and people criticize me for that,” she pointed out later in the show. “But tonight, in Los Angeles, was I on time?” The crowd roared in the affirmative. A rousing rendition of “Shake It Off” set the tone for what felt like a celebratory evening.
The band and backup singers stood toward the back of the stage on high platforms, resembling a 1950s dance-show set, which kept the focus on Carey. The crowd sang the “I will hunt you down” refrains back to her, loudly, during “Touch My Body” and kept the participation going throughout the night. Backup dancers disappeared and returned in varying configurations throughout the show.
“I had forgotten about this song the whole tour and I don’t know why. Funny I should forget it, considering the title,” she laughed as she introduced “Don’t Forget About Us.” She stayed dressed in a form-fitting short dress with a flared, tutu-like bottom for the first portion of the night, occasionally using a white mic stand. There were a couple of wardrobe changes into other form-fitting attire.
Mariah took a gulp of champagne (and later shilled for her own upcoming brand) while lying seductively on a chaise that seemed to have been brought out expressly for that purpose before singing “Always Be My Baby.” It was the most symbolic moment of the evening, somehow embodying the many facets of her appeal in a single action: beauty, sexiness, luxury, playfulness and talent.
At one point she complained about a chair being placed too far from the fans — the electric fans. “Don’t you know that my hair naturally blows just like in all of the videos? That’s real,” she joked.
She asked for hair and makeup people to come onstage and touch her up, saying, “I know it’s a diva moment, but I don’t care.” But the vibe of all of the antics was coy and knowing, like a joke within a joke that all of the crowd is in on. “I went to beauty school, so I can do this, too. Five hundred hours! The teacher hated me.”
A few tasteful and well-timed moments of seriousness notwithstanding — “Fly Like a Bird” was dedicated to her late bishop, “Angels Cry” to the people of Haiti — the evening rolled out with a relaxed vibe and the hits kept flowing, including “Make It Happen,” “It’s Like That” and “Up Out My Face.” A male backup singer took over for a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You”? “The ‘Heartbreaker’ remix was my favorite part of the night,” a 20-year-old fan named Manny told MTV News.
“I wrote it for my husband, who is not here tonight because he had business,” Carey said before “The Impossible,” the night’s only reference to Nick Cannon. “Whatever. Maybe he’ll surprise me one night.” Mary J. Blige was also absent for the text-message-drama song “It’s a Wrap,” which didn’t stop Carey from belting out the entire number herself. “Give it up for the jet skis in the video!” she shouted during “Honey.”
Carey thanked Jermaine Dupri for co-writing “We Belong Together,” which she said he told her was Billboard’s Song of the Decade. It also holds a high honor in the heart of at least one concertgoer, Tiffany, 21. “It’s my favorite song from Mariah. It’s my favorite song, period,” she told MTV News.
Carey returned for an encore, “Hero,” before unleashing the crowd into the night to fend off bootleg T-shirt vendors as they wandered Universal City Walk.
A remixed version of Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, called Angels Advocate, was due in stores this month but pushed back to March. Carey mentioned during the show that it might be pushed back again.
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‘American Idol’ Top 12 Men: How Do They Stack Up?
Posted on 24 February 2010
Andrew Garcia is an early front-runner, while Joe Muñoz has to gain a lot of ground.
By Eric Ditzian
Andrew Garcia
Photo: Michael Becker / FOX
Lilly Scott soared and Ashley Rodriguez bombed on Tuesday during the premiere performances of the top 12 female “American Idol” hopefuls. On Wednesday night (February 24), it’s time for the top 12 men to take their turns on the stage. Who’s sure to be voted through and who might be going home? Let’s take a look at how these 12 gentlemen stack up.
Andrew Garcia
How much does Twitter tell us? Garcia should hope it portends a lot, because the guitar-strumming daddy has 6,500 more followers than the next closest competitor, making him far and away the most popular “Idol” contestant on the social network. Garcia has brought a measure of funky creativity to the show — with his remixes of Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up” and Adele’s “Chasing Pavements” — and his sweetly blubbering reaction to making the top 24 only made him more likable.
Casey James
He seemed like a reality-show novelty act when he undressed at Kara DioGuardi’s behest during his Denver audition, but during Hollywood Week, the drowsy cowboy awakened to showcase a soulful voice and a smoldering stage presence. His ride on the “Idol” rodeo will continue for a long time.
John Park
When the 21-year-old opened his mouth at the Chicago auditions and unleashed a rich and expressive voice, we knew Park would be one to keep an eye on. His group bombed with Gwen Stefani’s “The Sweet Escape” during Hollywood Week, but the judges saw enough in Park as a solo act to give him a pass to the semis. Voters are sure to keep voting him through for a while.
Michael Lynche
Thanks to the Hollywood Week birth of his son, Big Mike received oodles of camera time. That recognition — plus an admirable vocal dexterity — has made him a fan favorite. He busted out the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody” during his audition, then donned a guitar in Hollywood for John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change.” It will be interesting to see which direction Lynche goes Wednesday, but we know this much: Big Mike ain’t going anywhere.
Tyler Grady
Now that we’ve come to see that the mop-topped rocker’s devotion to all things ’70s is genuine and not a gimmick (though certainly a bit clichéd), we’ve been able to embrace his inventive take on Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” and his competent rendition of Daughtry’s “Home.” While Grady should be safe for a while, we’d be very surprised if he does as well as Chris Daughtry did in season five.
Tim Urban
The Texas native is technically the 25th member of the semifinalists, as he was a last-minute replacement for booted crooner Chris Golightly. Still the shaggy-haired Urban, who has shown a propensity for folky rock songs from the likes of Matt Nathanson and David Cook, has the boyish good looks that might win him fans for weeks to come. Even more so than Grady with Daughtry, it would be a crazy shocker if Urban followed in Cook’s “Idol”-winning footsteps.
Todrick Hall
Fantasia has already given Hall her vote of confidence when she welcomed him into the production of “The Color Purple.” The humble 24-year-old made the risky decision to perform a jokey original tune during his Dallas audition, but he sang it with verve. His vocal-run-heavy rendition of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” was one of the most original tunes of Hollywood Week. Expect Hall to keep coming back week after week.
Alex Lambert
Lambert also delivered an original take on “I’m Yours,” strumming the ukulele as he sang. Surely it was that performance — and not a sizzle-less version of Maroon 5’s “Sunday Morning” — that convinced the judges to send him to the top 24. Lambert had better search for some elusive stage presence if he expects voters to send him forward for more than a few weeks.
Lee Dewyze
Dewyze seems to be the consensus pick for the less well-known “Idol” hopeful who nonetheless will sneak his way through week after week. Why? It could be his equally authentic covers of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” and the Fray’s “You Found Me.” Is Dewyze the singer/songwriter type that will rise this season? We’ll wait to see if he indulges his old-school-soul-flecked side or his pop-radio-friendly potential.
Aaron Kelly
It seems like every year “Idol” selects a precocious 16-year-old. David Archuleta, this kid ain’t. He flubbed the start of Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” during Hollywood Week, but recovered to show off an undeniable vocal talent. But somehow, that song just didn’t click coming from a young kid like Kelly. He’d be wise to skew his song choices to something written in the 21st century. That’s his best bet to stay in the competition.
Jermaine Sellers
The 27-year-old’s backstory — a church singer who cares for his disabled mother — made him an early breakout personality, as did his potent take on Joan Osborne’s “What If God Was One of Us.” Then he tanked during his group performance of Kansas’ “Carry On Wayward Son” and then called out the band’s mistake later in Hollywood Week. If Sellers returns to the promise of his audition, he might survive for a bit. If not, he’ll be headed back to church soon.
Joe Muñoz
Muñoz suffers from a case of “Who the heck is this guy?” That’s not his fault, and clearly he has talent — on display during a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” — but the 20-year-old needs to bust out a memorable performance on Wednesday night or it will be one and done for him.
Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Jay Leno Welcomes Kristen Stewart, Simon Cowell Back To ‘Tonight Show’
Posted on 22 February 2010
Jamie Foxx, cast of ‘Jersey Shore’ and more stars will chat with Leno during his first few weeks back hosting ‘The Tonight Show.’
By Jocelyn Vena
Kristen Stewart
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images
“The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” is set to make its return on March 1 and some of the biggest stars in Hollywood will be stopping by as Leno begins his second tenure as the host of the late-night program.
Jamie Foxx, Olympic gold medal skier Lindsey Vonn and Brad Paisley will be the show’s first guests on Monday. Sarah Palin, Olympic gold medal snowboarder Shaun White, the cast of “Jersey Shore,” Chelsea Handler, Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, Avril Lavigne, Matthew McConaughey, Jason Reitman, Morgan Freeman and Meredith Vieira round out the guest list for Leno’s first week back.
Week two sees everyone from Simon Cowell to Kristen Stewart stopping by to chat, with other second-week guests including “Inglourious Basterds” star Christoph Waltz, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Kim Kardashian, Colbie Caillat, Dakota Fanning and Judd Apatow.
After the cancelation of his 10 p.m. show, Leno took the “Tonight Show” seat back from Conan O’Brien in a move that had many fans and celebrities speaking out against NBC, including Sarah Silverman and “Southland” star Ben McKenzie.
“I had a show; my show got canceled,” Leno told Oprah Winfrey on her show last month. “They weren’t happy with the other guy’s show. They said, ‘We want you to go back.’ I said, ‘OK.’ And this seemed to make a lot of people really upset. And I go, ‘Well, who wouldn’t take that job, though? Who wouldn’t do that?’ And it was really agonizing. And I would spend a lot of time just thinking about it, going, ‘I think I’m a good guy. Am I not a good guy?’ Maybe I’m just one of those guys who thinks I see everything with the rose-color glasses and the world is falling around you.”
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Progress Report: Marnie Stern
Posted on 19 February 2010
NAME: Marnie Stern
PROGRESS REPORT: Waiting for the release of her third full-length album, recorded at Retrofit Recording in Sacramento, CA. Knitting.
Marnie Stern’s knitting is an important part of the progress report, because right now she really can’t think of much else to do. The followup to the excellent This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That was completed in December and is ready for mixing. And it feels too soon to start a new record, yet her next one still has a few months (August or September, she thinks) before it’ll be released. Stern says she doesn’t like to go for walks in the city. She hates the cold, and only goes out about once a month “for like five drinks then I pass out in a cab.” Her boyfriend lives in Calgary. She’s not very internet savvy. So for now she stays inside, knits, plays guitar, and hangs out with her dog. “My mom calls us Grey Gardens! We’re just in the bed all day long,” she says.
Continue reading Progress Report: Marnie Stern…
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